Moldboard adjuster



April 4, 1944.

M. WINGE MOLDBOARD ADJUSTER Filed April 28, 1943 Patented Apr. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOLDBOARD ADJUSTER Manford Winge, Dawson, Minn.

Application April 28, 1943, Serial No. 484,903 1 Claim. (Cl. 37-143) This invention relates to a moldboard adjuster, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of the above stated character which will permit a moldboard of a road scraper or similar machine to be adjusted for varying its working inclination so as to meet with various types of work, the construction of the device being such that the moldboard will be prevented from accidentally moving out of any of its adjusted positions and may be easily and quickly operated to bring about a desired adjustment without the use of a tool or the removal of bolts or the like as required in adjusting moldboards on machines now in use.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a portion of a machine equipped with a pivoted moldboard held in adjusted position by an adjuster constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates the moldboard, 6 one of the arms employed for attaching the moldboard to a machine such as a road scraper, bulldozer, or the like. The pivotal connection between the moldboard and the arm 6 is indicated by the character 1. Frequently, it is necessary to change the angle or inclination of the moldboard so as to meet with different kinds of work and heretofore it has been necessary to remove bolts or like fasteners in order to make the adjustment requiring the use of special tools. In order that the adjustment can be rapidly and quickly carried out, an adjuster in accordance with the invention is employed between the upper edge of the moldboard and one of the arms 8.

The adjuster can be operated without the use of a tool and will effectively secure the moldboard in any of its adjusted positions.

The adjuster consists of a'bracket 8 secured on the arm 6 by a bolt or like fastener 9 and has a channeled portion 10 to slidably receive a bar ll pivoted to the moldboard, as shown at 12, and provided with spaced notches I 3. The free edges of the side walls ll of the channeled portion it are provided with aligned notches to permit a pin l5 of a latch member is to move into any one of the notches iii of the bar II. The side walls l4 have integral therewith a journal I'I receiving a pivot [8 on which the latch I6 is journaled.

The latch member l6 includes parallel plates l9 mounted on the pivot I8 and carrying the pin IS. The plates l9 are connected by a substantially U-shaped portion 20 through which the bar ll extends. Springs 2| act on the plates N to urge the pin IS in the direction of the bar so as to enter any one of the notches 13 in alignment therewith. Each spring 2| is in the form of a spring member coiled about the pivot l8 with one end bent to form a hook to engage with the latch and the other end resting or bearing against the channeled portion III of the bracket 8.

Whenever the pin I5 is in a notch l3 of the bar I I, the moldboard 5 is held against pivotal movement on the arm 6, consequently retaining its adjusted position. However, to adjust the pitch of the moldboard, pressure is placed on the latch opposite the substantially U-shaped portion 20 disengaging the pin I 5 from a notch I 3 of the bar whence said bar may be slid in either direction to bring about the desired change of inclination of the moldboard. As soon as the pressure is relieved from the latch member the pin l5 returns in contact with the bar and will enter whatever notch I 3 aligns therewith. Thus it will be seen that the adjustment of the moldboard as to its inclination can be easily and quickly carried out by a person without the use of special tools or the removal of bolts or like fasteners.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In an adjuster for a moldboard, a supporting member having a moldboard pivoted thereto, a bar pivotally connected to the moldboard, a bracket pivoted to said member and including a channeled portion slidably receiving the bar, said bar having spaced notches, latch plates paralleling each other and pivotally mounted on the bracket, a pin connecting said plates to enter any one of the notches of the bar, a substantially U-shaped member connecting said plates and slidably receiving the bar, and tension means acting onthe plates to urge the pin against the bar and into a notch aligning therewith.

MANFORD WINGE. 

